Those who say that the totalitarian state of the Soviet Union was not "real" Marxism also cannot admit that one simple feature of Marxism makes totalitarianism necessary: the rejection of civil society. Since civil society is the sphere of private activity, its abolition and replacement by political society means that nothing private remains. That is already the essence of totalitarianism; and the moralistic practice of the trendy Left, which regards everything as political and sometimes reveals its hostility to free speech, does nothing to contradict this implication.

When those who hated capital and consumption (and Jews) in the 20th century murdered some hundred million people, and the poster children for the struggle against international capitalism and America are now fanatical Islamic terrorists, this puts recent enthusiasts in an awkward position. Most of them are too dense and shameless to appreciate it, and far too many are taken in by the moralistic and paternalistic rhetoric of the Left.

Those who say that the totalitarian state of the Soviet Union was not "real" Marxism also cannot admit that one simple feature of Marxism makes totalitarianism necessary: the rejection of civil society. Since civil society is the sphere of private activity, its abolition and replacement by political society means that nothing private remains. That is already the essence of totalitarianism; and the moralistic practice of the trendy Left, which regards everything as political and sometimes reveals its hostility to free speech, does nothing to contradict this implication.

When those who hated capital and consumption (and Jews) in the 20th century murdered some hundred million people, and the poster children for the struggle against international capitalism and America are now fanatical Islamic terrorists, this puts recent enthusiasts in an awkward position. Most of them are too dense and shameless to appreciate it, and far too many are taken in by the moralistic and paternalistic rhetoric of the Left.

thats on my list to see this halloween, but i havent seen it yet. i have a little catching up to do on cronenberg as well. you should ask Mac when he gets back in a few days as if anyone would know, its him.

Christopher Nolan's directive was clear to everyone in the cast and crew: Use CGI only as a last resort.

never seen those two.........if this doesn t wet your appetite for 'videodrome', i read on my lil cast and crew info on my 'crash' dvd that andy worhal called 'videodrome' the 'clockwork orange of the 80s'......cool eh?

Oh, videodome's already reserved at the library for me, based on James Woods alone. I guess if I like it, due to the recs so far, I'll get either Existenz or Spider...

Those who say that the totalitarian state of the Soviet Union was not "real" Marxism also cannot admit that one simple feature of Marxism makes totalitarianism necessary: the rejection of civil society. Since civil society is the sphere of private activity, its abolition and replacement by political society means that nothing private remains. That is already the essence of totalitarianism; and the moralistic practice of the trendy Left, which regards everything as political and sometimes reveals its hostility to free speech, does nothing to contradict this implication.

When those who hated capital and consumption (and Jews) in the 20th century murdered some hundred million people, and the poster children for the struggle against international capitalism and America are now fanatical Islamic terrorists, this puts recent enthusiasts in an awkward position. Most of them are too dense and shameless to appreciate it, and far too many are taken in by the moralistic and paternalistic rhetoric of the Left.

Viggo Mortensen Has A History of ViolenceSource: The Hollywood Reporter

Viggo Mortensen will reunite with his "Lord of the Rings" studio New Line to topline A History of Violence for director David Cronenberg.

Adapted by Josh Olson from John Wagner and Vince Locke's graphic novel of the same name, the film tells the story of an ordinary family's life after the father receives unwanted national attention for a seemingly vigilante-style self-defense killing at his diner. Mortensen would play the father, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Mortensen most recently starred in Hidalgo at Disney and played Aragorn in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” - Andy Warhol

Ed Harris and William Hurt are in negotiations to join the cast of "A History of Violence" at New Line Cinema. David Cronenberg is directing, with Viggo Mortensen toplining. Adapted by Josh Olson from John Wagner and Vince Locke's graphic novel, "Violence" tells the story of an ordinary family's life after the father (Mortensen) receives unwanted national attention for a seemingly vigilante-style self-defense killing at his diner. Harris will play the bad guy who comes looking for Mortensen, while Hurt will portray Mortensen's long-lost brother. New Line execs Kent Alterman and Cale Boyter are overseeing for the studio. J.C. Spink and Chris Bender are producing through their Benderspink shingle, while Roger Kass and Josh Braun are executive producing. The Oscar-nominated Harris, repped by CAA, manager Neil Koenigsburg and attorney Melanie Cook, just wrapped "Empire Falls" for HBO. Hurt, repped by WMA, is currently on-screen in "The Village." He won a best actor Oscar for "Kiss of the Spider Woman."

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” - Andy Warhol

I can usually watch a movie and I don't move much, as I am focusing on the film. Several times over I found myself cringing, my mouth hanging open and being uncomfortable.

Not to say any of that is bad.

I love how the film acts as Videodrome itself. It gets into your head and always finds a way to shock you more and more as the movie progresses.

All the Cronenberg that I've seen is The Fly, Naked Lunch, Dead Ringers and Videodrome.

I've heard watching his movies on drugs actually helps you understand what's going on, though I usually can piece it together myself.

Has anyone here watched any of his movies under the influence of anything?

"As a matter of fact I only work with the feeling of something magical, something seemingly significant. And to keep it magical I don't want to know the story involved, I just want the hypnotic effect of it somehow seeming significant without knowing why." - Len Lye

Now, Crash on the otherhand, I did not like. I enjoy the premise, looking at a group of people with a strange fetish. Instead, the film doesn't really provide any insight, explanation or reason for this fetish. Its just sex and car crashes with unlikeable characters. The result is that I have the same reaction about the idea of people who find sexual arrousal in car crashes as I did before the film. It's weird.

Just watched Videodrome. (...)I love how the film acts as Videodrome itself. It gets into your head and always finds a way to shock you more and more as the movie progresses.

As long as it doesn't make you do something sick, though, it's not acting as full-fledged Videodrome. Heh heh! And a good thing, too.

It's interesting... when I first saw this film as a senior in high school, I thought it was kind of an anti-TV rant. When the new DVD came out, I saw there was something a little more twisted going on. After all, Videodrome is a kind of pornography made by moralists, to kill those who view it. Suddenly it's not the TV that's evil, it's those who would use it to destroy those they dislike.

Or something like that. I make no claim to completely understand this movie, but I'm hoping more viewings will make it all a little clearer as time goes by.

Nah. Stoners and such are always saying you "get it" when you watch (or listen to or read) something while you're messed up, but the truth is you're just too messed up to notice how much of it you DON'T understand. I'm not anti-drugs, by any means, but thinking of drugs as being a "key" to any piece of art is just silly.